Duncan Fletcher says he would consider asking Shane Warne to help him resurrect England's fortunes.
The world's leading wicket-taker has been England's nemesis down the years but quit international cricket following Australia's 5-0 Ashes win.
Now under-fire England coach Fletcher admits he could seek out his advice.
"Someone of that calibre now would be very useful for England," he said. "He's got the capabilities of helping anyone at international cricket."
Fletcher thinks Warne will be particularly useful grooming England's spinners, having taken 708 Test wickets with his own leg-spin.
"We are prepared to speak to anyone... there's no doubt about it"
Monty Panesar is the obvious candidate, but Fletcher believes the likes of Ashley Giles could prosper from Warne's influence, too.
"Can you imagine the help he could give to a very, very experienced spinner in the side?" said the England coach.
Fletcher has not ruled out seeking the advice of Glenn McGrath either, admitting: "We are prepared to speak to anyone. There's no doubt about it."
Like Warne, fast bowler McGrath brought the curtain down on his Test career following Australia's victory in Sydney on Friday.
Unlike Warne, McGrath plans to continue playing international cricket until the World Cup in the West Indies.
Warne has not called time on his playing career completely, though. He has a two-year contract with county championship side Hampshire.
Meanwhile, Fletcher has insisted once again that he will not quit as coach.
The England Cricket Board announced a wide-reaching review of the squad and team management within hours of the 10-wicket loss in the fifth Test.
But Fletcher, a Zimbabwean who orchestrated the upset 2-1 Ashes series win over the Australians in England in 2005, says he will stick to his original plan and only reconsider his position after the World Cup in the Caribbean.
"We're in a better position than we were the last time we were here when we lost 4-1"
"I really believe I have the confidence of the players and the backing of the players and that's what is very, very important," he said.
Despite being the first in 86 years to be whitewashed in a five-Test Ashes series, Fletcher says his England squad was in better shape than the 2003 tourists, who lost the first four Tests before salvaging a win in Sydney.
"We're in a better position than we were the last time we were here when we lost 4-1," he said.
"There's a young group of cricketers here who performed at the highest level in other conditions. I just feel they just need to play together as a unit for longer.
"Even though they lost 5-0, they were competitive. They do have a belief they can do it."